MS 150 Recap!

I know it’s been almost two weeks, so let me try and recall all of the fun.

A different start:

Last year we started at Conoco Phillips, which was one of the official race starts. As great as the experience was, it was very crowded and we started a bit later than we wanted. We decided to start at 6:45 at Bear Creek Park on our own. It was a great decision! The three of us started together and ended up freezing together. The cold cut right through you, to the point that when we finally stopped for the first time we were all shaking from it. We’ve all ridden in colder weather before, but this cold was vicious.

La Grange:

 Ahhhh, sleeping in a tent! Team HP (who we ride for) had a very large tent this year. The first thing we did when we made it in was stuff our faces with dinner from Lupe Tortilla, yum! After that we all stood in line at the shower trucks. Well, Mac and Hugh stood in line for about an hour and I got to stand there a while longer. I’ll never understand why some women feel compelled to shower and put on makeup to SPEND THE NIGHT IN A TENT ON THE GROUND. Makes no sense to me. When I made it back to the tent Hugh and Mac had our sleeping area staked out. We each have a sleeping bag, all side by side on top of a tarp. We “slept”, and I use quotation marks because there’s no real sleeping happening on the ground, and woke up at 5 a.m. to get dressed and line up to start the second day ride.

Austin-bound!

I had some complications with my asthma on the first day, so I decided that it wouldn’t be in my best interest to take the challenge route. I know that it was one of my goals for the year, but it will just have to be something that I continue to work towards. Mac and I took the Lunch Express route and we were FLYING! We set a very fast pace and were able to keep it up until we met up with Hugh at lunch. The lunch rest stop was packed, so we decided to get our lunch at a nearby Carl’s Jr. I think we were all just excited to use REAL bathrooms! We caught a great tailwind after lunch and were in Austin at 2:30.

The ride is great personal physical challenge, but it’s about so much more. I really enjoy being a part of something that is much greater than me. We’re helping people that need it, and there’s no greater feeling than crossing the finish line knowing that you’ve helped.

 Start of the ride!

 There was a bad wreck on day 1. There were thousands of riders waiting.

 Still waiting...

 This is inside the tent. Notice ALL of the people.

 Mac, waiting for the start on day 2.

 All of us waiting on the start of day 2.

 Me, sans makeup. Standing in front of two guys I slept by the night before.

 The BP hot air balloon!

 Hugh and I at the last rest stop!

 All of us at the last rest stop.

Finish line!!! Hugh and I didn't have the cool shorts that Mac did. 



Friday was a little crazy. Last week was a tough week at work. The layoffs happened last week and everyone spent the entire week on pins and needles. I got one of the dreaded emails from my boss that said, “Please come see me in my office.” YIKES!!! I sat outside his office trying not to puke up the pool water from my morning swim. He brought me in and told me that my job was safe “for now”. WHEW!!! I was very relieved, but the truth of the matter is; there is no more security in education. It’s gone. I realize that 99% of jobs don’t ever have security, but education has always been safe. There will always be children to teach therefore there should always be jobs. Unfortunately we’re in an economic downturn that is hurting education like never before. I’m truly worried about the future of education. Children are taught to pass tests so the schools can get their state and federal money. It’s more sad than anything. I’m no longer in the classroom, but I do see the changes that are happening.

I have to stop writing about this. It just upsets and frustrates me. I spent all last week with my stomach in knots about it.

I digress. It was Friday afternoon of an epically long week and I was waiting for the window repairman. He was supposed to be at the house “after 3:30” which apparently translates to 5:15 on Monday. I obviously have not been privileged to see the glass-man time table so I spent my Friday afternoon being frustrated. I cleaned the house like a crazy woman, couldn’t have a glass of wine because of our ride the next morning, and just stewed about the week. Sure enough, as I was approaching the emotional breakdown point Hugh walked inside the house with these:

Just because. I love him!



Doggie Photo Shoot

I had some time to play with the dogs yesterday afternoon before softball, so I decided that they wanted to have their pictures taken. Now, Toby and Cassie are very sweet and cute, but I wouldn’t exactly call them dog models. I think Toby has a fear of the camera and Cassie has this weird attachment to a miniature stuffed Chihuahua. I wonder if she thinks that it’s her baby? I don’t know, but she licks it and drags it around everywhere. Enjoy the pictures of the doggies playing in the sunshine!

Cassie's mohawk looks great here and I'm pretty sure Toby's laughing.

Toby rolling

This is Cassie and her baby. Notice they're posing the same way.

Cassie and Toby sitting pretty and smiling for the camera!





Jenn vs. The Plants

I’ve never been a green-thumb kind of person. When I first got into coaching and teaching there were occasions when I was given plants as thank-you’s. Since I have no ill feelings towards plants in general I gave those poor plants to my mom so they’d at least have a fighting chance at life. I just decided that plants weren’t my thing and I could be content with that being an area that I wasn’t successful.

Shortly after I moved in with Hugh we decided to redo the front flower bed. Hugh asked me to just go down the street to a small nursery and pick out some flowers. When I got there I had a great idea (or so I thought). Instead of buying a bunch of small flowers, why not buy four large hanging baskets full of flowers and then we have less work! While that might have worked out fine, I chose bougainvilleas. They’re gorgeous, but they have thorns. I didn’t realize they had thorns until we were trying to plant them and were getting cut to shreds. The made it until winter when we decided to chunk them in the trash. Hugh was so relieved.

I decided that I had to turn around my plant killing ways after my grandmother died. After her funeral my mother gave me a large Peace Lily, or “Closet Plant” that was given at her service. I took it home terrified of killing it. My grandmother was a very important figure in my life and although I realize it’s irrational, I felt that if I killed the plant I would somehow be hurting my poor, dead Mema. The first thing I did was research the heck out of that thing. I read article after article that explained how to care for the plant and what not to do. It started growing! Hugh and I went to Garden Ridge and agonized over a very large pot to transplant it to. Then, Hugh’s grandmother passed away six months later and we were given a plant from her funeral. I never realized that there could be so much guilt attached to a plant. They are both currently healthy and flourishing, but Hugh says that if we ever sell our house that he has no clue how my grandma’s plant is going to move with us. Even with both of us trying we can’t lift the pot.

Fast forward to three weeks ago. Hugh and I decided that we wanted to put some tomatoes and peppers in a few pots that we have outside. We went to the nursery and picked out several tomato varieties, pepper options, and even some herbs. We have them all planted and we’re now worrying like crazy about their chances of survival. If any of you have gardening tips please share!